Method for cleaning and storing of a mould drum

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mould drum for moulding products from a mass of food starting material. The mould drum comprises one or more cavities with a mould cavity wall having at least partially a porous structure, whereas each cavity is connected to a passage. The present invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus and a forming apparatus preferably provided with a cleaning device for the inventive mould drum with supporting means for supporting the axis of the drum. Additionally, the present invention relates to a process for cleaning the inventive drum.

1 ) A method for cleaning and storing a mould drum for moulding products from a mass of food starting material, the mould drum comprising one or more cavities, each of the one or more cavities having a mould cavity wall having an at least partially porous structure, and each of the one or more cavities are connected to a passage, the method comprising the-steps of:
 a. cleaning the mould drum.   b. treating the mould drum with a bacteriostatic-substance; and   c. storing the mould drum with the bacteriostatic-substance on and/or in the mould drum.   
     
     
         2 ) The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a step of pre-cleaning the mould drum to remove particles from the mould drum. 
     
     
         3 ) The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning step is carried out with an alkaline cleaning agent. 
     
     
         4 ) The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a step rinsing the mould drum after the cleaning step and before the treating step 
     
     
         5 ) The method according to  claim 1 , w herein the bacteriostatic-substance is an organic acid in a concentration between 0.5-2 weight %. 
     
     
         6 ) The method according to  claim 1 , w herein the bacteriostatic-substance is provided on surface of the drum and/or within the at least partially porous structure and/or in the passage of the mould drum. 
     
     
         7 ) The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the storing the mould drum is maintained moist. 
     
     
         8 ) A method for cleaning a mould drum for moulding products from a mass of food starting material, the mould drum comprising one or more cavities with a mould cavity wall having an at least partially a porous structure, each of the one or more cavities are connected to a passage a cleaning fluid is provided via the passage, wherein prior and/or during the cleaning, a pressure and/or fluid flow of the cleaning fluid is measured and/or a pressure drop of the cleaning fluid, across the at least porous structure is measured. 
     
     
         9 ) The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the measurement is used to select a cleaning process. 
     
     
         10 ) The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the cleaning is controlled based on the measurement. 
     
     
         11 ) The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the cleaning is carried out and/or changed until a reference value, is measured or determined. 
     
     
         12 ) The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reference value is a pressure drop of the mould drum prior to its first use in production and/or after a revision. 
     
     
         13 ) A method of using a mould drum for moulding food products from a mass of food starting material, the mould drum comprising one or more cavities, each of the one or more cavities having a mould cavity wall having an at least partially porous structure, each of the one or more cavities is connected to a passage, the method comprising steps of:
 a. removing the mould drum from a storage, and   b. removing a bacteriostatic from the mould drum.   
     
     
         14 ) The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the passage is connected to a fluid source. 
     
     
         15 ) The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises a rinsing step that takes place in an apparatus to form the food products from the mass of food starting material. 
     
     
         16 ) The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the mould drum rotates during rinsing. 
     
     
         17 ) The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises a step of removing rinsing fluid from the channel and/or from the at least partially porous structure by compressed gas. 
     
     
         18 ) Apparatus for forming a food product from a food mass with a mould drum the mould drum comprises means to rotate the mould drum and a mass feed member, which fills cavities of the mould drum with a food mass and means to remove formed food product from the cavities, wherein the apparatus comprises means to rinse the mold drum prior to forming food products. 
     
     
         19 ) Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the mould drum rotates during rinsing. 
     
     
         20 ) Apparatus according to  claim 18 , the mass feed member can be moved from a remote position to a filling position. 
     
     
         21 ) Method for using a mould drum for moulding products from a mass of food starting material, the mould drum comprising one or more cavities with a mould cavity wall having an at least partially porous structure, the method comprising steps of:
 moulding the products from the food starting material,   interrupting the moulding of the products,   wetting a surface of the mould drum, and   restarting of the moulding.   
     
     
         22 ) Method according to  claim 21 , wherein water is sprayed on the surface of the mould drum upstream from the mass feed member. 
     
     
         23 ) Method according to  claim 22 , wherein the water is removed from the mould drum in a discharge position. 
     
     
         24 ) Method according to  claim 21 , wherein a rotation of the mould drum is maintained during the interrupting step.